iPad keyboard

I have been having fun with garage band on the iPad. I'd like advice on buying and connecting a keyboard to the iPad. Just for fun, not performing or recording. I'm not a great player tbh I could lay my hands on an old Technics kn800 keyboard which has DIN MIDI out. Willing to spend about 100. Thanks

So what you want is to get the iPad/Lightning connector to USB connector for your iPad. This means that you can plug in usb devices such as keyboards in as long as they are class compliant. (They will even power the keyboard)

Using that I have plugged in keyboards over USB and even tried the usb-midi cables that you can get and, strangely, it worked better on my iPad than on my mac book pro. Go figure. If you can get your hands on a midi-only keyboard, this approach should be fine.

Dave's point is good though. If you get the Camera Connection Kit (preferably the newer Lighting-USB3 one https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... 42#p501208)It allows you to charge your iPad and power your USB device at the same time. It will work with any class-compliant USB device (listing in the post referred to) so gives you a lot of flexibility. Also allows you to connect a camera!

You don't say which iPad you have, so check to see which connector you have - Lightning or 30pin. This can be critical with some older gear e.g. Behringer IS202 is 30pin, but will work via an Apple Lighting-30pin adaptor.

Thanks all.So it's Apple camera cable plus any device, or a device with lightning connection. I can see the former keeps future options open. One more idea thoughAre the Bluetooth keyboards (piano keys) any good?

If you need to be rhythmically precise when you record using Bluetooth you can make it work if you learn to play ahead of the beat a tiny bit as there is a bit of lag as the keyboard information is traveling through the air. For playing pads and drones I’ve had no problem. I’m not a great keyboard player so I prefer not to use Bluetooth when I play. I usually record into an app that lets me shift what I played so it lines up where I want it. I’d suggest just jump in and try it and see how it works for you. It’s all great fun and inspirational!

If by any good you mean the quality of the keyboard then I’d say there are some better built than others and that sometimes price isn’t a good indicator. Try before you buy if you can. The way the keys feel is different for each brand. The size of the keys can be different etc etc

Sam Spoons wrote:Wired here too but also bear in mind that iPads won't power all USB devices, my Akai EWI USB being, frustratingly, a case in point as it needs too much power.

Please see the link above about the Lightning/USB3 CCK. The USB'3' part is unimportant (to me) - the important bit is that this newer CCK takes a powered Lightning input as well as the USB plug, so can power both the iPad and attached devices. May work for your EWI?